No 13730, Wednesday 07 Dec 2022, Arden

Solution to 25A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Stable at sea, most accomplished (6) ABLEST*

4   Two guards close to Chinese border - it's a huge monster (8) BEHEMOTH {B{c...sE}{HEM}OTH}

10 Old master allows Mark to come in during school term (9) REMBRANDT {REM{BRAND}T*}

11 Place to stay while heading west - impossible to hide inside (5) HOTEL [T<=]

12 Experts refused Artemis (7) MAESTRI*

13 Add up in rush - it started again (7) RESUMED {RE{SUM}ED}

14 Essentially parties in the middle of the day are frowned upon (3,2) NOT ON {NO{parTies}ON}

15 Lug it, to prevent nasty shocks (8) EARTHING {EAR}{THING}

18 Dictator's assistant is following the stricture (8) STENOSIS {STENO'S}{IS}

20 Some lunch after one (5) PASTA {PAST}{A}

23 Wine details in tomfoolery (7) CHIANTI Anno pending (Addendum - {CHIc}{ANTIc} - See comments)

25 Harry not completely sure, very anxious (7) N?R?O?S (Addendum - NERVOUS {NOt+SURE+V}* - See comments) Deletion of T not clear

26 Provide Oriental humour (5) EQUIP {E}{QUIP}

27 Modern medicine, two pounds only - there is lack of interest all around (9) ALLOPATHY {A{LL}{O}PATHY}

28 Inner character of a country radiates from the centre (8) STELLATE [C&DD] (Addendum - {ST{ELL}ATE} - See comments)

29 Basically airfares are becoming more equitable (6) FAIRER aIRFAREs*

DOWN

1   Plant - It's a pain to locate outside border (8) AGRIMONY {AG{RIM}ONY}

2   Fast intervention by a doctor makes it bright (7) LAMBENT {L{A}{MB}ENT}

3   Breaking ironstone may improve your mood (9) SEROTONIN*

5   Take part alone - guard IPR from top to bottom in a creative fashion (14) ENTERPRISINGLY {ENTER}{(-i)PR(+i)I}{SINGLY}

6   Values those rising from bottom to top (5) ETHOS (+e)ETHOS(-e)

7   Starts over the top, upholding PM's seat (7) OTTOMAN {Over}{The}{Top}{NAMO<=}

8   Compound to stash almost everything inside (6) HALIDE {H{ALl}IDE}

9   Painters take part in renovation - with this, no sweat (14) ANTIPERSPIRANT {PAINTERS+PART+IN}*

16 Farsightedness, that is happy or sad? (9) HYPEROPIA {IE+HAPPY+OR}*

17 He will vote against any other state supported by the Queen (8) NAYSAYER {ANY*}{SAY}{ER}

19 Platform for a popular leader (7) TRIBUNE [DD]

21 Anonymous postal employee? That's something unique (7) SNORTER {S{N}ORTER}

22 Automatic clearance, savings banks give you entry (6) ACCESS {Au...iC}{Cl...cE}{Sa...gS}

24 Place to get some humane palliative care (5) NEPAL [T]

Reference List

Pound = L, Only = O, Character = ELL, Very = V, Queen = ER